英国政府为在英吉利海峡扣押俄罗斯"影子船队"油轮Smyrtos的行动进行辩护[1]。该油轮在6月被皇家海军突击队拦截登船[1]，船长阿杰·潘特因违反俄罗斯制裁被控[1]。
普京对英国的行动提出严厉警告，称西方国家的举措构成"海盗行为"[1]，并表示"如果这些计划付诸实施，我们将不得不以牙还牙"[1]。俄罗斯太平洋舰队司令维克托·利亚也宣称俄方拥有检查和拘留"不友好国家"船舶的能力[1]。
英国国防部强调了采取行动的必要性，指出俄罗斯拥有超过700艘影子船队船舶，运载俄罗斯75%的被制裁石油，是克里姆林宫维持乌克兰战争的"关键生命线"[1]。截至2026年8月中旬，超过630艘船舶已被欧盟制裁[1]。自年初以来，欧盟周围已有9艘影子船队油轮因规避制裁被扣押[1]。
Britain has justified its interception of the Smyrtos, a tanker belonging to Russia's shadow fleet, in the English Channel, after President Vladimir Putin warned of retaliatory measures [1]. The Russian leader characterized the seizure as "piracy" and stated that "if these plans are put into practice, we will have to respond in kind" [1]. The ship's captain, Ajay Pant, faces charges related to violations of Russian sanctions [1].
The UK Ministry of Defence emphasized that Russia operates over 700 shadow fleet vessels responsible for transporting approximately 75% of the country's sanctioned oil, describing this network as a "critical lifeline" sustaining Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine [1]. The Smyrtos was intercepted by Royal Navy personnel in June [1]. Russia's Pacific Fleet Commander Viktor Liina countered by asserting his forces possess the capability to inspect and detain vessels belonging to "unfriendly nations" [1].
The enforcement action reflects broader Western efforts to disrupt sanctions evasion. As of mid-August 2026, over 630 vessels had been subject to European Union sanctions, and since the beginning of the year, nine shadow fleet tankers operating in European waters have been seized for circumventing restrictions [1].